I visited the T1 air-side desk earlier in the week and guy said that it was open all the time.

He took my Gold card and placed on the scanner and added the e-gate functionality to work in T1. It now works inbound and outbound there. (It works by placing it on top of the beds at the e-gates, not by sliding it inside.)

He wasn't really responsive when I asked whether it would work in Abu Dhabi now too. I assume not, but I should get a chance to check later in the year.